Summary: We are threatened by a vicious adversary and liar. God, in his steadfast love, has provided victory for us in the resurrection.

1. Revelation 20.1-6

2. Controversy over millennial issues

a. Premillennialism (A. Campbell and the Millennial Harbinger)

b. A millennialism

c. Post-Tribulation; Pre-Tribulation

d. "Pan-Millennialism" it will all pan out

3. Holy, Holy, Holy!

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! Isaiah 6:3

Reginald Heber was pastor of an Anglican Church in the village of Hodnet, in a church once led by his father. Between 1811 and 1821, Reginald wrote 57 hymns, which he longed to see published; but the Anglicans hadn't yet adopted the singing of hymns in worship. Heber packed away his hymns and sailed as a missionary to India, where he labored with intensity for a few short years before passing away at age 42. His hymns were published after his death, and one is famous to this day: "Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee."

In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah had a vision of the throne of God, surrounded by seraphim crying, "Holy, holy, holy!" Isaiah, caught up in the worship of God, confessed his sins, was wonderfully cleansed, and offered to go and do whatever the Lord said. "Here am I! Send me."

When we worship, we get caught up in the nature of God and in His holiness. We praise Him who is merciful and mighty; and then we say, "Here am I! Send me."

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

3. A warning -- 1 Peter 5.8

a. Devour the weak

b. On the prowl

B. He is Weaker than God

[Saddam Hussein left Kuwait in chaos, though he was defeated

1. Faithful martyrs honored (Stephen; Paul; Apostles; Jesus himself)

a. No compromise with "the beast" -- Exodus 20.3

b. Thrones -- 2 Timothy 2.11-13

11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful--

c. Places of Judgment -- 1 Corinthians 6.2-3

2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

2. All faithful believers are holy and priests of God -- 1 Peter 2.9

C. Never Underestimate Him

1. He IS powerful; but not as powerful as God

2. Don't play with him

3. He has had generations to know us

4. Our strength is the LORD -- Psalm 118.14

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Disney's movie "The Lion King" features a young lion named Simba who is destined to rule the jungle but finds himself "on the outs." As the story opens, his father takes him to "Pride Rock" (the equivalent of a throne) and shows him his inheritance ... he would rule as far as his eyes could see; everywhere the sun placed its light.

Soon afterward an evil plot is set afoot and Simba's father is murdered. Simba flees. He runs from his destiny due to guilt and fear. In his absence the evil Hyenas take "Pride Rock.

The world changes when the hyenas take the throne. Their evil alters everything. The land becomes desolate and grey and life erodes into desperation.

Rafiki, the monkey, is the wise sage of the land. Rafiki seeks out Simba and helps Simba overcome his guilt and fear and aids him in understanding his destiny and person. You see, Simba did not fully grasp who he was or what power and authority he possessed.

Once Simba realized who he was, what he possessed, and his role in the society of the Savannah he returned, drove the hyenas Pride Rock, took His place as king, and restored peace and beauty to the land.

The story of pride rock serves as a very powerful parable. When evil rules, the land and its inhabitants are devastated; but when the righteousness rules ...

Simba is a good illustration of Jesus' church. Often we, like the young Lion King, fail to recognize our position and inheritance. We fail to grasp that we are "A Kingdom of priests"; destined, and given a duty that brings peace and restoration.

* Rev. 1:6, "And has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."

* Rev. 5:10, "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

* Proverbs 14:34: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."

II. The Reality of Resurrection -- The Knockout Punch

A. God's Ultimate Power in Resurrection

1. Jesus and Lazarus -- John 11.4

"This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

2. Throughout the Bible -- Son of Widow at Nain; "Talitha cumi"; Paul at Troas; Saints at Crucifixion -- all died again

B. The Ultimate Resurrection is at Jesus' Return

1. Dead in Christ raised first (1 Thessalonians 4.16)

2. Resurrection is proof of God and his Power -- 1 Corinthians 15.12-20

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

C. A Blessed Symbolic Resurrection -- Romans 6.1-4

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

1. Enacting DBR

2. It MUST BE REAL

a. If we don't die to the sinful nature -- it means nothing

b. If we do not identify with Jesus in his burial -- it means nothing

c. If we do not walk in new life -- it means nothing -- Colossians 3.1-4

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

D. Resurrection is the Ultimate Defeat of the Adversary and His Weapons

1. Fear

2. Death (our greatest fear)

3. No more -- 1 Corinthians 15.54b-55

"Death is swallowed up in victory."

55 "O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?"

Calvary, Napoleon and Satan

Napoleon Bonaparte, the story goes once gathered his military staff around a map of the world and pointed to a redheaded pin marking the location of Great Britain. He then exclaimed dramatically, "Were it not for that red spot, I would have conquered the world."

One would imagine Satan points to Calvary and cries out, "Were it not for that red spot, I would have conquered all mankind."

May we never forget that without the sacrifice of Jesus we would be lost, still in our sins, unforgiven. His blood cleanses us. We must learn to forgive each other and to forgive ourselves. But most of all, we must accept the forgiveness that God offers us through the death of his Son on the cross.